R-USN 



-3- 



12/19/30 



Old Snjita's fat liguro lengthens out into that of Uncle Sara, 

 And the raerry olvos \i/ho ride with hira change to Ir^.u^-hi-.g little Eskimos, 

 And this year in the i-ole of Santa Claus, Uncl^- Sar.i is carrying another 

 Qiristmas gift to Alasira. And you night say reindeer are pulling the 

 new gift. Cert un it is, that the astonishing^ success of the reindeer 

 introduction in Alaska has had a lot to do with the new plan. 



That ploji is ultimately to provide another range animal industry 

 "by reestablishing the musk-ox in Alaska. The Biological Survey has 

 recently "brought 3^1- musl:-oxen from Greenland, "by way of Norway and 

 New York to Seattle, '.Vashington, and Seattle to Sew.:-.rd, Alaska, and 

 inland to Fairtanlcs, and all this without losing' a single animal from 

 any cause. 



At Fairbanks the Sureau has "begun experiments to determine the 

 possi'bilities of doraesti catin^^ and "breeding the Greenland musk-oxen in 

 Alaska. 



Dr. Bell s,?ys that the musk-ox has long "been accustomed to even 

 more rigorous weather than the reindeer or cari'bou can stand. In its 

 heavy coat of wool and long hair, it is well protected against the cold. 

 Being a grass-eater, instead of a "browser and eater of lichens or moss, 

 as is the reindeer, it is ada;Dted to a different character of range from 

 that used by the reindeer. 



That's what it will "be; new kind of range livestock* In the v/ild, 

 it has the hahit of herd:.ng with its kind, so it would seem that these 

 animals .'.end themselves to handling as range cattle. 



There are plenty of fine range g-^-asses in jUaska of the kinds these 

 animals like. In fact, although the idea of raising musk-oxen as more or 

 less domestic anim-ls is new, the animals themselves are not new to Alaska, 

 Natives of Alaska sa;- that their grandfathers killed musk-oxen in the 

 region south of Point B-.rrow a few generations ago. 



If all goes well v/ith the experiment, the newly introduced anim.-!ls 

 will "be the foundation herd for another meat industry for Alaskans. And 

 not only will they "be used as meat animals, "but the hides and wool maj"" 

 also "be used. The wool is not like sheep wool, and Dr, Bell says tests 

 will have to "^^e made to determine uses for it. 



Any.vay, you sec what important gifts the reindeer steeds of Santa 

 Claus have brought and are bririging to iUaska. 



AlINOUNCa^TT ; IThoa, D-underJ Whoa, BlitzenJ I -"ess we get out 01 

 Santa's sleigh right here, Yo-ar Wilis Man will bu bade with another talk 

 with Uncle Sam's Naturrlists of the United States Lepartr.^ent of Agri- 

 culture two weel:s from today. 



